Jacqueline was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to New Jersey in 1977. Today, she’s a marrow transplant nurse and volunteer courier who lives in Texas with her husband and children. Jacqueline loves to travel, eat and show her kids that the world is a great place, and they must try to accept and embrace what is offered to them. Jacqueline shares what it’s like to be a transplant nurse and volunteer marrow courier.

What’s it like to be a bone marrow transplant nurse?

I love being a nurse. I always tell new nurses to treat their patients as if they were one of their family members. This way they will never lose that passion. I started working at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 1986 as a phlebotomist. Then I went to nursing school and worked as a bone marrow transplant nurse from 1998 to 2011. I also worked as a bone marrow transplant research nurse for 3 years, but realized I need to talk to patients and not to a computer. I like patient contact and I returned to patient care. Stem cell is where I started my nursing career and it’s my baby.

Your cousin is a transplant doctor in Peru?

I had not seen my family back in Peru in many years, but I found out my cousin is a very well respected hematologist and the very first doctor to do a bone marrow transplant in Lima! His name is Dr. Sergio Murillo Vizcarra. Now, I go home to Peru every chance I get. We talk about what else? Stem cells!

He informed me that they just started the national registry last year. So to me this is very exciting. Lots of Hispanics and other cultures are not very aware of what stem cell transplant is. They think the donors will be operated on and their cells will be taken and they, too, will get cancer or sick … We have a lot of teaching to do still after all these years.

What’s it like to be a volunteer marrow courier, helping to deliver donated marrow to a patient?

It’s the best feeling when you are transporting cells that someone donated to save someone else’s life. I always say a prayer so that the person who gets the donated stem cells does well. (I know it sounds cheesy, but I do.) When we had our twins I told my husband, Martin, he had to do something nice to thank God for our babies. Now Martin is also a volunteer marrow courier. It’s a wonderful feeling to get to do something good for someone else, and to know that just maybe it helped that person have a second chance.

What do you say to encourage others to get involved?

I always try to educate people of what a stem cell transplant is, and if they are ever chosen what the collection process entails. The other day I heard my kids tell their little friend “my mommy is going to deliver cells so she can save someone’s life.” This makes me hope that they too will get involved in some way like their mom and dad.

I have been on the donor list for over 30 years and had the opportunity to donate about 8 years ago. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would like to know if there is a demand for volunteer marrow couriers and how to get involved. Thanks.

My son just had a bone marrow transplant in July and before I quit to be his full time caregiver I worked as a nurse. I would love to be a volunteer courier and am looking for information on how to do so.

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For people with life-threatening blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma or other diseases, a cure exists. Be The Match connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant.